Photo Credit: Governor's office. Brooklyn cluster zone map displaying red, orange and yellow zones.
October 7, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Sabrina Rezzy
718-940-0428
Non-Essential Businesses & Schools to Close in Certain Cluster Zones
CLUSTER ACTION INITIATIVE PLAN
Photo Credit: Governor's Office
  • Governor Cuomo announced a Cluster Action Initiative plan yesterday, developed in consultation with leading national public health experts Dr. Noam Ross of EcoHealth Alliance, Dr. Michael Osterholm of the University of Minnesota and former CDC director, Dr. Tom Frieden.
  • The initiative is composed of three steps:
  • Dramatic action within Covid-19 clusters;
  • Action in areas surrounding clusters; and
  • Precautionary action in outlying communities.
  • To address these steps, the governor has defined 3 cluster zones in areas including Broome County, Brooklyn, Orange County, Queens and Rockland County.
  • A map of the Brooklyn cluster zone is above and can also be viewed here.
  • Maps of the other areas can viewed here.
  • To find if your residence, place of business or school is in one of the cluster zones, you can visit NYC.gov/Covidzone. The site is not live yet, but will be working soon.
  • The governor emphasized that mass gatherings are a major contributor to the spread of the virus.
  • Therefore, the state will be fining sponsors of mass gatherings $15,000 for violations of NYC gathering rules.
  • Local governments will be charged with enforcing the plan.
  • Businesses that are impacted by the closure rules should plan to shut down no later than tomorrow.
  • Mayor de Blasio will start enforcement of the plan on Friday.
  • To determine whether your business is considered essential, visit here.
  • The rules will stay in effect for 14 days, at which time the state will reevaluate them.
RED ZONE
  • Red Zone - Cluster
  • Houses of Worship: 25% capacity or 10 people maximum, whichever is fewer.
  • Mass Gatherings: Non-essential gatherings of any size are prohibited and must be postponed or cancelled. Any individual who encourages, promotes or organizes mass gatherings may be fined up to $15,000/day.
  • Businesses: Only essential businesses open. Essential businesses are defined by the New York State Empire State Development Corporation Rules. You can view them here.
  • Dining: Takeout and delivery only
  • Schools: Closed, remote only.
ORANGE ZONE
  • Orange Zone- Warning Zone
  • Houses of Worship: 33% capacity or 25 people maximum, whichever is fewer
  • Mass Gatherings: limited to 10 people for indoor or outdoor settings. Any individual who encourages, promotes or organizes mass gatherings may be fined up to $15,000/day.
  • Businesses: Closing high-risk non-essential businesses, including gyms and fitness centers, and personal care services, including barbers, hair salons, spas, tattoo or piercing parlors, nail technicians and nail salons, cosmetologists, estheticians, the provision of laser hair removal and electrolysis, etc.
  • Dining: Outdoor dining only, 4 person maximum per table
  • Schools: Closed, remote only
YELLOW ZONE
  • Yellow Zone - Precautionary Zone
  • Houses of Worship: 50% capacity
  • Mass Gatherings: 25 people maximum, indoor and outdoor
  • Businesses: Open
  • Dining: Indoor and outdoor dining, 4 person maximum per table
  • Schools: Open with mandatory weekly testing of students and teachers/staff for in-person settings. The New York State Department of Health will establish a percentage of teachers and students/staff who need to be tested by Friday 10/9/20.
PREVENT THE SPREAD - ALL ZONES
• Stay home: Stay home, especially if you are sick unless you are leaving for essential medical care or other essential errands.
• Physical distancing: Stay at least 6 feet away from other people. Do not attend large gatherings, especially indoor gatherings. Remember to keep a safe distance between you and others even when wearing a face covering.
• Wear a face covering: Protect those around you. You can be contagious without having symptoms and spread the disease when you cough, sneeze or talk. When worn correctly (covering both your nose and mouth), face coverings can help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
• Practice healthy hand hygiene: Wash your hands often with soap and water or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available; clean frequently touched surfaces regularly; avoid touching your face with unwashed hands; and cover coughs and sneezes with your arm, not your hands.
• Get tested. To find a COVID-19 testing site near you, visit nyc.gov/covidtest or call 212-COVID19 (212-268-4319). Testing is free at many sites, including all sites operated by Health + Hospitals and the NYC Health Department.
Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte represents the 42nd Assembly District in Brooklyn covering Ditmas Park, Flatbush, East Flatbush and Midwood. She is currently the Chair of the Subcommittee on Oversight of Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs), and serves on the following committees: Housing, Government Operations, Education, Banks, Health, and Higher Education. She is also a member of the Task Force on Women's Issues and sits on Governor Cuomo's Domestic Violence Advisory Council and Mayor De Blasio's MWBE Task Force.

As a current Assemblymember, District Leader, and Chair of Brooklyn Democratic Party, Rodneyse Bichotte has been an outspoken advocate on issues concerning immigration, education, economic development, unemployment, education reform, health care access, senior citizen centers, affordable housing, school safety, women's and LGBTQ rights, as well as other issues affecting the quality of life in the community.

  
Learn more about 
Rodneyse Bichotte by visiting her websites: